From Rachel's Kitchen: Roasted Black Cherry Sangria

Tis the season to be merry,

and I don't know about you,

but I'm a whole lot merrier on wine! :)

I found a recipe for Roasted Cherry Sangria

a few months back, decided to reinvent it, 

and it turned out delicious!

It's a great recipe for the holidays,

pretty simple to make,

and will definitely bring some festive 

cheer to the Christmas table

if you decide to whip it up

and bless your guests with a batch!

Roasted Black Cherry Sangria

Ingredients:

(1) 750ml bottle of Red Zinfandel (or any red with notes of berry). 

I actually used a bottle of "Old Patch Red" I got in Napa Valley,

a blend of 85% Zinfandel, 15% Petite Syrah with abundant jammy berry flavors, black cherries, and plums. Spicy with a long, juicy finish!

(1) small bottle of Polar Black Cherry Seltzer

1/2 cup of Kirsch (cherry flavored liqueur)

(1) pound of cherries

(1) blood orange

1/2 cup of sugar (more for dusting cherries)

Directions:

1)  Wash, depit, and cut cherries in halves. Set aside about 10 cherries for simple syrup.

2) Put the rest on a baking sheet, lightly dust them with sugar, and throw them in the oven at 400 for 25 minutes.

3) While they are baking, take 1/2 cup of sugar with a 1/2 cup of water along with 10 cherries and bring to a boil. One sugar is fully melted, let simmer about 15 min until simple syrup turns red from drained cherries. This will be your cherry simple syrup - let cool and set aside. 

4) Pour bottle of wine into a container along with the 3/4 cup of cherry flavored liqueur. Add cherry simple syrup once cooled. Slice blood orange and add to batch. 

5) Once roasted cherries come out of oven, let cool. Add roasted black cherries to the mix, along with any juice from pan. 

6) Let flavors mull in the refrigerator for 10-24 hrs (the longer the better!) Add small bottle of black cherry seltzer before serving or (1) 750ml bottle of Cava Brut Rose (sparkling rose wine). Serve over ice.

Drink Responsibly! 

Be Merry...

xo,

Post Recipe Note: Did not love the Kirsh - found the liqueur very strong and didn't love the flavor. I would sub this out for Absolut CherryKran, Grey Goose Cherry Noir, or your favorite vodka base. But very, very delish! :)